Holder for a mop cover, mop cover and cleaning device

ABSTRACT

A holder (1) for a mop cover is provided. The holder (1) comprises a core (2) made of a plurality of reversibly bendable, dimensionally stable strands (3), wherein these strands (3) are completely embedded in an envelope (4). The holder (1) further comprises a first end (5) and a second end (6), wherein at least the first end (5) has a portion (7) which is wider and/or thicker than the wrapping (4) immediately axially preceding the portion (7). A corresponding mop cover, and a cleaning device made from both, is also provided.

This US patent application claims priority to German patent applicationno. DE 10 2021 104 030.2, filed Feb. 19, 2021, the entire contents ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a holder for a mop cover of the typeused in particular in cleanrooms for cleaning hard-to-reach areas incorners, behind or between equipment and furnishings, or high up onwalls. The invention further relates to a mop cover suitable for thisholder and a cleaning device comprising at least one holder and a mopcover arranged on the holder.

2. Related Art

In addition to the usual cleaning of surfaces, it is necessary, inparticular in the case of commercial cleaning of clinical,pharmaceutical and other cleanrooms, to clean the surfaces of theequipment, furnishings, machines, etc. located there in accordance withthe high cleanroom requirements. For this purpose, in particularhand-held holders are used, which are significantly narrower and longercompared to mop cover holders used for surface cleaning and, above all,are less rigid. This means that they can also be guided in curves behindblocking objects, in gaps below or behind them, or in other areas thatare difficult to access.

In particular in the field of commercial cleanroom cleaning, reusableproducts, which must be appropriately treated for reuse after a cleaningprocess, are used in addition to disposable products. This treatment isprimarily done by autoclaving.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a holderwhich is particularly suitable and easy to handle for this purpose.

SUMMARY

The object of the present invention is achieved by a holder for a mopcover, comprising a core of a plurality of reversibly bendable,dimensionally stable strands or of a flat material strip, whereinstrands or material strip are each completely embedded in a wrapping,further comprising a first end and a second end, wherein at least thefirst end has a portion which is formed to be cross-sectionally widerand/or thicker than the wrapping immediately axially preceding theportion.

Particularly advantageously, the arrangement according to the inventionof mechanically stable strands which are reversibly bendable multipletimes, yet dimensionally stable before and after bending, and which arecombined to form a core, or of a flat material strip havingcorresponding properties, enables optimum adaptability to the respectivechanging location of use. The core according to the invention allowsbending at any position, a plurality of bendings, even in oppositedirections, and a very wide range of bending radii. Compared with aone-piece core, these cores made of strands have the great advantage ofbeing optimally and easily adaptable in their mechanical properties tothe conditions of use of the holder comprising these strands, forexample by selecting the number, the diameter, the spacing betweenindividual strands and the material of the strands. Here, these strandsare preferably made of a metal, preferably formed as wire. It is againparticularly advantageously if the strands are completely embedded in awrapping and thus protected from contact with the environment. At thesame time, this wrapping ensures that microcracks possibly occurring ina strand due to tensile and compressive or even torsional forces do notform a gateway for impurities during multiple bendings, since thesepossibly existing microcracks are shielded by the material of thewrapping. The same applies to the configuration of the core as a flatmaterial strip.

By configuring at least one end of the holder with a portion which iswider in cross-section and/or thicker than the wrapping directlysurrounding said portion, a holder for a mop cover which is pulled overthe holder according to the invention when in use is created in thesimplest manner. This mop cover fits tightly against this portion, sotightly that it cannot unintentionally slip off the holder duringmopping movements.

In a configuration of the invention, it is provided that the strands arearranged in the same orientation relative to each other, in particularparallel to each other, preferably equidistantly parallel to each other.According to the invention, the strands are primarily formed as roundwires, but can also have an oval, rectangular or other cross-sectionalarea. According to the invention, the strands can also be arranged intwo or more layers on top of each other within the wrapping, wherein theindividual strand layers—but also the individual strands—may differ fromeach other in their properties. According to the invention, they canalso be arranged in a plurality of horizontally spaced vertical rows,formed as a two- or three-dimensional lattice structure, as long as thestrands allow the desired dimensionally stable bendability of theholder.

Even a core in the form of a flat strip, in particular of metal, is inaccordance with the invention.

The equidistantly parallel arrangement of the strands according to theinvention is particularly simple in terms of design so that, afterovermolding or dipping or other wrapping method, it is possible in asimple manner to produce an endless strip consisting of core andwrapping, which is then cut to the desired lengths and provided with endportions to form holders according to the invention.

If the strands are formed from a different material than the wrapping,the respective positive properties of two materials can beadvantageously combined. In principle, a holder made of a singlematerial would also be in accordance with the invention, in particularif this material can form both thick strands and the thin wrappingthereof. According to the invention, the material of the wrapping isprimarily a plastic material which can be autoclaved, in particular alsomultiple times and can be bent several times without crack formation. Inparticular silicones or thermoplastic elastomers are in accordance withthe invention. The material of the strands or of the flat material stripis preferably a metal, in particular a steel or iron, wherein due to thewrapping, expensive stainless steel can particularly advantageously bedispensed with, where appropriate, and less expensive iron materials canbe used. Particularly preferred are plastics with self-healingproperties, i.e. those that can counteract cut-like damage or crackformation by closing the cut/crack.

Depending on the cleaning location and conditions, such a holderaccording to the invention can be manufactured in the widths and lengthsrequired, thus, it can be formed from very long and narrow to short andwide, wherein the mop cover, likewise according to the invention, isthen formed according to these contours.

In a configuration of the invention, it is provided that the second endalso has such a portion and/or the portion is shaped in a bone-likemanner or has a contour formed asymmetrically with respect to alongitudinal axis of the holder. In order to make the operation of thedevice as simple as possible for a user, the ends are shaped in such amanner that, due to this shaping and the selected dimensions, theyindependently securely hold a pulled-on mop cover even when force isapplied by mopping movements, as a result of which it is advantageouslypossible to dispense with separate holding devices, such as snapfasteners, Velcro strips and the like, for the mop covers on the holder.The holding effect is based primarily on an elongation of the mop covercaused by the holder within the elasticity modulus of the mop cover sothat the fabric structure thereof is not disturbed and the mop coverautomatically returns to its original shape when it is pulled off theholder.

If the holder according to the invention has a connecting device forconnection to a joint or if it itself has a joint, in particulararranged on the wrapping, preferably in the region of the second end, itis particularly movable and can also be attached to extensions, such asa handle.

In a refinement of the invention it is provided that the holder has ahandle portion in the region of the second end. This refinement savesdesign expenses for a joint, reduces the manufacturing costs and isparticularly suitable for a purely hand-held use at medium room height.

The object of the invention is further achieved by a mop cover which hasa shape corresponding to the shape of the holder as described. It isformed to be correspondingly long and narrow, in particular as a hoseclosed on three sides.

According to the invention, this tubular shape is seamless; however, aseam on one side or even a circumferential seam is not excludedaccording to the invention. Due to its shape and its elasticallytensioning material, it is held by itself on the holder, in particularnon-positively by radial tensioning forces of the mop cover material andaxial frictional forces between the inner surface of the mop cover andthe surface of the holder.

If it has a mopping surface made of a fiber material, in particular amicrofiber material, it is particularly well suited for use incleanrooms.

Finally, the object of the invention is further achieved by a cleaningdevice comprising at least one holder as described and a mop cover asdescribed, arranged on the holder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to thefigures in the drawing of some exemplary embodiments. In the figures:

FIG. 1: shows in each of four partial figures a) to d) a schematiccross-section through a holder according to the invention, and

FIG. 2: shows a schematic top view of a holder according to theinvention with several end shapes according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows in each of partial figures a) to d) a schematiccross-section through embodiments according to the invention of core 3and its wrapping 4 of a holder 1. Partial FIG. a) shows an embodimentwith eight steel wires which are arranged equidistantly to each other inone plane and have the same diameter, surrounded by a wrapping enclosingthem and made of a plastics, in particular an autoclavable thermoplasticelastomer in the form of a polyethylene, also available under the namePurell.

The partial figure b) shows an embodiment according to the invention ofthe core 3 with three cross-sectionally rectangular metal strips as thecore 3, likewise oriented parallel to one another but with their longerside in each case oriented vertically. They are enwrapped in a wrapping4 according to the embodiment schematically shown in partial figure a).

Partial figure c) shows in a top view and cross-section a furtherembodiment of the core 3 according to the invention, which is formedhere as a lattice structure.

Partial figure d) shows a further embodiment according to the inventionof the core 3, which is formed here from a flat metal strip.

The wrapping 4 in all these embodiments is formed to be sufficientlythick to protect the completely enclosed core from environmentalinfluences of any kind. It is also sufficiently thick to resist minordamages to the surface by, for example, sharp objects or edges in such amanner that they cannot penetrate through to the respective core.However, it is not so thick that it cannot be repeatedly bent.

FIG. 2 shows in each of the two partial figures a) and b) a schematictop view of a holder 1 according to the invention with shapes accordingto the invention of the first end 5.

Partial figure a) shows a complete holder 1 in which a core 3 withwrapping 4 is arranged on a handle portion 10. By forming here the coreas multiple parallel strands according to FIG. 1a ), it can particularlyadvantageously be brought into any required shape in order to reachareas that are difficult to access in a room to be cleaned.

The first end 5 of the holder 1 is formed asymmetrically with respect tothe longitudinal axis of the holder 1, that is, the area of the end 5 onone side of the longitudinal axis is larger than that on the oppositeside. A circular through opening 13 is provided in an axial end portionof the holder 1 which is formed without a core 3. On the one hand, thisthrough opening 13 serves to make the end region of the holder moreflexible so as to be able to better hold the mop cover, and on the otherhand, it provides a possibility for suspended storage of the holder orholders 1 and also saves wrapping material.

In this case, the end 5 is injection-molded onto the strand of core 3and wrapping 4 which has previously been formed into a continuous shapeand then cut to length. This increases manufacturing efficiency whilereducing costs at the same time. A mop cover 11, shown in dotdashedlines, which is formed elongated to correspond to the holder 1 is slidonto this holder 1. On its mopping side, the mop cover preferably has afiber material, in particular a microfiber material or consists entirelyof it. The mop cover 11 is held on the holder because its materialtensions over the holder 1 due to its flexibility. Here, the tensioningforce is greatest in the region of the first end 5, but the holder 1also has a holding effect over its axial length due to the staticfriction between the mop cover 11 and the wrapping 4. This is all themore true the stronger or more bends are introduced in the holder 1 bythe user.

The mop cover 11 is formed to be correspondingly elongated, inparticular as a hose closed on three sides. It is provided with a handloop, not shown, sewn on in the region close to the handle, which makessliding onto the holder 1 according to the invention much easier. A griparea which makes it easier to pull the mop cover 11 off the holder 1 isprovided at the opposite closed end of the mop cover 11. The intendedremoval of the mop cover 11 preferably takes place in a curved removalmovement outside the longitudinal axis of the holder 1, and accidental,unintentional removal during the mopping process is precluded by theholding and frictional forces between the holder 1 and the mop cover 11which is correspondingly shaped and fits thereon elastically in anonpositive manner.

Partial figure b) shows another embodiment of the first end 5 in theform of a more elongated, rather rectangular portion moldedsymmetrically around the longitudinal axis. This embodiment of theholder 1 has a joint 9 between a handle portion 10 and the holdingportion for the mop cover which has a connecting portion 8 through whichit is either fixedly or releasably connected to the joint 9. Due to thebendability and dimensional stability of the core 3 after bending, sucha joint 9 is not absolutely necessary since the holder 1 can be bentinto almost any required shape, including such shapes that have multipleand possibly also oppositely directed bends. However, it is ofadvantages in order to further facilitate the handling of the invention.This configuration with a holder portion releasably connected to thejoint has the advantage that a user can use differently shaped holdersafter replacement with the same handle, depending on his cleaning task.

Particularly advantageously, the invention enables the use of a holderfor cleaning surfaces in cleanrooms that can also be autoclaved multipletimes and thus supplements the surface cleaning devices known there, sothat cleanroom-compatible devices are available to a cleaning specialistfor any cleaning location. Due to its enwrapped core, the holderaccording to the invention can be bent at any position, also multipletimes along its longitudinal axis, even in opposite bending directions,wherein the type and material of the core ensure dimensional stabilityafter bending and allow repeated bending at intervals without damage,embrittlement or the like. Due to its low manufacturing costs, theholder according to the invention can also be used as a disposabledevice in an economically viable manner, in particular if it has nojoint and the grip area is simply formed by an end portion of thewrapped core which is not covered by the mop cover when in use.

1. A holder for a mop cover, comprising a core of a plurality ofreversibly bendable, dimensionally stable strands or of a flat materialstrip, wherein strands or material strip are each completely embedded ina wrapping, further comprising a first end and a second end, wherein atleast the first end has a portion which is formed to becross-sectionally wider and/or thicker than the wrapping immediatelyaxially preceding the portion.
 2. The holder according to claim 1,wherein the strands are arranged in the same orientation relative to oneanother, in particular parallel to one another.
 3. The holder accordingto claim 1, wherein the strands are formed from a different materialthan the wrapping and/or the material of the wrapping is autoclavable.4. The holder according to, claim 1, wherein the second end also hassuch a portion and/or the portion is formed in bone-like manner or has acontour shaped asymmetrically to a longitudinal axis of the holder. 5.The holder according to claim 1, wherein the holder has a connectingdevice for the connection to a joint or itself has a joint, inparticular arranged on the wrapping.
 6. The holder according to claim 1,wherein the holder has a handle portion in the region of the second end.7. A mop cover, wherein the mop cover has a shape corresponding to theshape of the holder according to claim
 1. 8. The mop cover according toclaim 7, wherein the mop cover has a mopping surface made of a fibermaterial.
 9. A cleaning device, comprising: at least one holder, eachholder comprising a core of a plurality of reversibly bendable,dimensionally stable strands or of a flat material strip, whereinstrands or material strip are each completely embedded in a wrapping,further comprising a first end and a second end, wherein at least thefirst end has a portion which is formed to be cross-sectionally widerand/or thicker than the wrapping immediately axially preceding theportion; and a mop cover arranged on the holder, the mop cover having ashape corresponding to the shape of the at least one holder.
 10. Aholder according to claim 2, wherein the strands are arrangedequidistantly parallel to one another.
 11. The holder according to claim5, wherein the connecting device is in the region of the second end. 12.The holder according to claim 8, wherein the mopping surface is made ofa microfiber material.